The saltpier

The salt pans of Bonaire cover one tenth of the island’s surface and produce 360.000 to 500.000 tons of Bonaire salt every year. The saltpans are operated by Cargill. The various stages of production are reflected by the differing colours of the ponds. The crystal clear seawater turns first to green then brown and finally, as the salt crystallises, to pink. This distinct pink colour is caused by bacteria.